A Paris court delivered a stark warning against online harassment, finding ten individuals guilty of relentlessly cyberbullying France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron. The charges stemmed from a vicious campaign spreading false and deeply personal claims about her gender and sexuality, including the baseless assertion she was born a man.
The court’s decision wasn’t merely symbolic. One defendant received a six-month prison sentence, while eight others faced suspended sentences ranging from two to eight months. Crucially, all ten were ordered to undergo cyberbullying awareness training, a direct attempt to address the root of their harmful actions.
Judges condemned the comments as “particularly degrading, insulting, and malicious,” highlighting the cumulative damage inflicted by repeated false accusations. The accusations didn’t stop at gender; some posts falsely linked the couple’s age difference to pedophilia, amplifying the cruelty and malice of the attacks.
The defendants, a group ranging in age from 41 to 65, amplified these falsehoods through numerous online posts, some of which garnered tens of thousands of views. Their actions weren’t isolated incidents, but a sustained effort to damage Brigitte Macron’s reputation and inflict emotional distress.
Brigitte Macron herself chose not to attend the two-day trial, but publicly stated her motivation for pursuing legal action was to “set an example” – a clear message that online harassment would not be tolerated. She sought to draw a firm line against the escalating tide of digital abuse.
Her daughter, Tiphaine Auziere, offered a poignant testimony, describing the “deterioration” of her mother’s life since the harassment began. The impact, she explained, extended far beyond Brigitte Macron, deeply affecting the entire family, including her young grandchildren.
One of the most severe sentences – six months in prison – was handed down to a property asset manager, a sentence that could be served at home with potential restrictions like an ankle monitor. This underscored the court’s determination to hold individuals accountable for their actions.
Delphine Jegousse, known online as Amandine Roy, played a central role in disseminating the false narrative, releasing a four-hour video on YouTube in 2021. Her actions earned her a six-month prison sentence, reflecting the significant impact of her contribution to the campaign.
Aurelien Poirson-Atlan, operating under the social media handle Zoe Sagan, saw his X account suspended prior to the trial following multiple judicial investigations. He received an eight-month prison sentence, alongside a gallery owner, demonstrating the court’s resolve to punish those who actively spread misinformation.
A single defendant, a teacher, offered an apology during the trial and avoided a prison sentence, but was still required to complete cyberbullying awareness training. This highlighted the court’s willingness to consider remorse, while still demanding accountability.
Several defendants will face temporary suspensions from the social media platforms where they posted the harmful content, further limiting their ability to engage in online harassment. The court emphasized that the severity of the sentences was directly proportional to the gravity of the offenses.
While French authorities generally withhold the names of defendants, some individuals publicly identified themselves, choosing to speak out during the proceedings. Many attempted to defend their actions as harmless humor or satire, a justification the court ultimately rejected.
The case stems from years of circulating conspiracy theories falsely claiming Brigitte Macron was born Jean-Michel Trogneux – the name of her brother. The Macrons are also pursuing a separate defamation lawsuit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens.
The story of Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron is itself remarkable. They first met when he was a student at the high school where she was a teacher. Their relationship, which began when Brigitte was a married mother of three, defied convention and blossomed into a lasting partnership, culminating in their marriage in 2007.
Emmanuel Macron, now 48, has served as France’s president since 2017. The relentless attacks on his wife represent a disturbing trend of online harassment targeting public figures and their families, a trend the French court has now firmly condemned.
